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Dharma Talks
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2025-03-23
Light on effort, an oar in the stream
40:37
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Ajahn Sucitto
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With effort, citta is the main thing. It’s both the heart quality from where intention streams and that which harvests the results. Then one knows where to best apply energy and how that’s done. Practise the application of effort to mindfulness of breathing, acknowledging and moderating the tools being used and the material they’re being applied to. When you practise rightly, there will be fortunate results.
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Cittaviveka
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End of 2025 CBM Winter Retreat
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2025-02-06
Right Intention
59:12
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Yuka Nakamura
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Our actions are often driven by unconscious or conflicting intentions. How can we align with wholesome intentions and cultivate wholesome mindstates? Based on the Dvedhāvitakkasutta the talk discusses the importance of renunciation, metta and compassion for the path and the transformation of the heart.
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Meditationszentrum Beatenberg
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2024-04-03
Meditation: A Present Heart
16:38
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Tara Brach
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One translation of mindfulness, in Chinese, is “present heart.” In this guided meditation we begin by awakening through the body and the senses, and then open the attention to the changing flow of experience. The intention is to meet whatever arises with a wakeful and kind presence.
It’s so helpful to say, “What’s happening inside me right now?” Then, “Can I meet this with kindness, with a present heart?”
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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2023-12-28
End of Year Reflection:
Honoring this Moment Together
54:14
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James Baraz
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As we come to the last gathering of the year, join us online as we will reflect on this moment together--looking back at the past year, seeing where we are right now and getting in touch with our vision for the upcoming year. We will mark this time together with an end-of-year ritual and support each other in our intentions for the New Year. Please bring a candle, some pare and a writing implement.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2023-03-29
The Importance of Cultivating Right Intention
50:04
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Tuere Sala
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Intention is present in every experience, response or action. Cultivating Right Intention in the context of contemporary society can often seem self-indulgent. The constant demands of being a householder can also over shadow intention and make it harder to recognize the expectations, assumptions, desires, beliefs, and/or energy (in other words- the intentions) behind our actions. Intention is part of the unconditional and thus, a necessary aspect of awakening.
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Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
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2022-12-17
Giving Birth to Oneself
1:22:18
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Nathan Glyde
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A reflection on the activity of being reborn as the person we find ourselves to be, time and again, moment to moment, in this life (put aside for now past and future lives in different bodies). Furthermore, how any culture is reborn via the activity of the collective of indivduals that make it up. This reflection uses an exploration of the "many lives in one life" of the radically awake Baba Amte, as we come to the 108th anniversary of his birth. The possibilties of taking birth are endless and accessible right now: is this not the very path of the art of intentional cultivation, AKA meditation?
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Gaia House
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Online Dharma Hall - Dec 2022
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2022-10-22
Our Dhamma Compass
23:09
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Ayya Medhanandi
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Strong in restraint, courageous in wisdom, we use the compass of right view to steer us on the Noble Eightfold Path, while right intention sustains the healing actions of mind that let go unwholesome thoughts and endless fabrications. We learn to live and respond to life compassionately, responsibly, mindfully, with integrity and noble presence of mind. Healing from above and below, from the outside and internally, we listen to the unspoken silence of the heart that resounds in the galaxies. Keenly aware, supremely blessed, we rejoice in the totality of unbounded compassion.
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Ottawa Buddhist Society
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2022-03-28
Peace is Possible | Monday Night Talk
45:38
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Jack Kornfield
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We are in a time of great transition. The climate crisis, the pandemic, war, injustice, racism: they're all pressing on us to live in a different way. And if you live with a peaceful heart, the point is not to let your heart get hardened. Don't turn your gaze away. But see another possibility—see with the great heart of compassion.
My teacher Ajahn Chah said, "We human beings are constantly in combat, at war to escape the fact of being so limited by so many circumstances we cannot control. But instead of escaping, we continue to create suffering, waging war with evil, waging war with good, waging war with what is too small, waging war with what is too big, waging war with what is too short or too long, or right or wrong, courageously carrying on the battle. It's time to stop the war. "
The sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson said, "The real problem of humanity is the following: we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and god-like technology."
The first response is tend the wounds, feed the hungry, and stand up for peace in whatever way you can. But there is also an inner response needed. We know where war starts—it starts in the human heart. We must make the heart a zone of peace. Set your compass to your highest intention. Something in us knows there is another way.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2021-12-30
New Year's Gathering: Letting Go and Moving On
51:53
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James Baraz
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As the year comes to an end, we mark and celebrate this transition point by reflecting on where we are in our lives and consciously get in touch with our vision for the coming year. The Buddha talked about the power of having Wise Intention and "Clear Comprehension of Purpose" to keep us facing in the right direction. As a community we can support each other through reflecting on what we've learned in 2021 and share a ritual to call forth our vision for the coming year.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2021-12-12
At the Frontier of Harmlessness – Chop Off the Head of Mara
42:13
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Ayya Medhanandi
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One who practices true compassion inwardly as well as to others is praised as a superior person, a spiritual warrior on the path of harmlessness. How do we emulate that? Guided by right intention, we abandon the hindrances of the mind and patiently whittle away our ingrained habit of ego construction. We learn to see wisely and to forgive conditions as we journey to transcendence.
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Portland Friends of the Dhamma
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Full Catastrophe Compassion
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2020-10-04
Dhamma Stream Q&A
1:28:46
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Ajahn Sucitto
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How does citta relate to consciousness; is citta involved with rebirth; how to practice with non-attachment; the role of cetana (intention), sankappa (attitude) and chanda (motivation) in citta cultivation; how much jhāna is needed for stream entry; where does motivation for practice/career/relationship come from; what does attachment to rights and rituals, sīlabbata-parāmāsa, mean; clarify body energies and energy flows; question about prayer; advice about life termination.
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Cittaviveka
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At Home with the Homeless: Ajahn Sucitto Locked Down
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2020-07-29
Deepening Our Daily Life Practice in the Pandemic 3
66:09
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Donald Rothberg
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After a brief review of what we've explored in the last two sessions, in terms of ways of deepening daily life practice in terms of formal practice, informal practice, and one's work, service, and/or activism, we go more deeply into two areas. We look at how to practice with exploring and seeing intentions, and some ways to make connections between formal and informal practice--in the flow of daily life. The talk has a few references to the life of Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights activist and Congressperson, who died on July 17, 2020, and is followed by discussion..
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2019-08-14
Right Intention
59:36
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Yuka Nakamura
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The Buddha emphasized intention as the key to happiness and peace. However, often we are not aware of the intentions behind our choices and actions. Based on the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta the talks discusses the unwholesome intentions of sensual desire, ill will and cruelty and the wholesome intentions of renunciation, lovingkindness and compassion. It also discusses central aspects of mental cultivation.
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Meditationszentrum Beatenberg
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14 day Karuna and Vipassana Meditation Retreat
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2018-10-17
Cultivating Wise Speech 1
64:49
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Donald Rothberg
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We start with an overview of the contemporary importance of training in wise speech, and the place of wise (or "right") speech traditionally, as one of the factors of the Noble Eightfold Path of the Buddha. We then examine two foundational aspects of wise speech, first a grounding in the ethical guidelines for speech given by the Buddha, and secondly the intention to be present and mindful during speaking and listening. Finally, there is a guided practice in dyads especially of the second foundational dimension of speech practice.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2018-09-27
3 Kinds of Intention
58:57
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Sally Armstrong
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3 Kinds of Intention
To develop any skill, to fully cultivate any qualities in our lives, particularly on the Buddhist path, we need to engage with three kinds of intention that operate on different time frames. Cetana is the moment-to-moment intention, the urge to do, that we can bring into the field of our mindfulness practice. The next level, Adhitthana, is usually translated as resolve or determination and is one of the paramis. The highest level is Samma Sankappa, right or wise intention. This is the second path factor, after right view, so it is the kind of intention developed by right view. There are three kinds of Right intention - the intention towards renunciation, non-ill will, and non-harming. These skillful intentions can then inform our choices and actions (Adhitthanas), which we keep in mind through awareness of moment-to-moment intentions, or cetana.
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Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center
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Three-Month Retreat - Part 1
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2018-08-15
Behind the Mask of Fear
30:22
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Ayya Medhanandi
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What do we fear the most? Love, unconditional love. Learning to see intuitively, we truly see. And when we have eyes to see, we are fearless. We may not feel fearless but we know how to face our fear – to know it as it truly is. That’s how we vanquish it – right there. Never give up a heart of love but give up fear of suffering. With faith in our deepest intention to free ourselves, courage rises up. We remember the pure love hidden behind the mask of fear. It is a harmlessness, a radiance, an inexhaustible peace. True disarmament is not in the world but in the heart.
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Satipanna Insight Meditation (SIMT)
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Treading Softly on This Earth
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2017-02-23
3 Kinds of Intention (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
57:10
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Sally Armstrong
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To develop any skill, to fully cultivate any qualities in our lives, particularly on the Buddhist path, we need to engage with three kinds of intention that operate on different time frames. Cetana is the moment to moment intention, the urge to do, that we can bring into the field of our mindfulness practice. The next level, Adhitthana, is usually translated as resolve or determination, and is one of the paramis. The highest level is Samma Sankappa, usually translated as right or wise intention. This is the second path factor, after right view, so it is the kind of intention developed by right view. There are three kinds of Right intention - the intention towards renunciation, non-ill will, and non-harming. These skillful intentions can then inform our choices and actions (Adhitthanas) , which we keep in mind through awareness of moment to moment intentions, or cetana.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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February Month-long Retreat
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2016-09-22
Three kinds of intention.
58:29
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Sally Armstrong
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To develop any skill, to fully cultivate any qualities in our lives, particularly on the Buddhist path, we need to engage with three kinds of intention that operate on different time frames. Cetana is the moment to moment intention, the urge to do, that we can bring into the field of our mindfulness practice. The next level, Adhitthana, is usually translated as resolve or determination, and is one of the paramis. The highest level is Samma Sankappa, usually translated as right or wise intention. This is the second path factor, after right view, so it is the kind of intention developed by right view. There are three kinds of Right intention - the intention towards renunciation, non-ill will, and non-harming. These skillful intentions can then inform our choices and actions (Adhitthanas) , which we keep in mind through awareness of moment to moment intentions, or cetana.
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Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center
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Three-Month Part 1
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2016-07-28
Refrain from False Speech
29:28
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Shaila Catherine
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Shaila Catherine gave the fourth talk in a six-week series titled "Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts." Speech is given particular importance in the Buddhist path because wrong speech can cause tremendous harm, and right speech can be profoundly beneficial. Practicing right speech is given emphasis because it's a very vivid way of applying our practice to daily life. When we lie based on delusion and greed, our intention usually is to benefit ourselves. When we lie based on delusion and hatred, our intention is usually to harm others. Even when we lie to cause less harm than would be caused if we spoke the truth, we should be aware of the potential karmic consequences.
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Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
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In
collection:
Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts
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2016-02-24
The three kinds of Wholesome Intention: Sankappa, Aditthana, Cetana
54:57
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Sally Armstrong
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This talk is about the similarities and subtle differences of the 3 kinds of intention: Cetana (...intention, purpose, objective, agenda, goal, target, etc.),
Sankappa (right thought and intent, avoiding unwholesome mind states, cultivating wholesome, etc.) and Aditthana (decision, resolution, self-determination, will and resolution, etc.)
All three types are important resources as we train our heart/minds through intensive practice and in our day to day lives.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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February Month-long
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2016-01-07
Characteristics of mindfulness
51:29
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Ajahn Sucitto
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the doors to the deathless; right view the essential reference; that which can arise and be gladdened; 11 doors or entry points –4 jhanas, 4 bhrama-viharas and three immaterial states; the Buddha advised meditators to “absorb”, rather than concentrate / tightening up; a sponge must absorb to open up, not contract; need to drench ourselves in withdrawal; viveka, vitaka, vichara, piti and sukka; in the body; using wise (rather than hard or tight) attention; withdrawal from unwise attention; intention (the inclination of the heart) comes before attention and replaces immature lunging in or irresolute attention; make the intention one pointed as the mind settles down and the attention will follow; necessary wise preparation; a wise cow in the mountains; shortcoming of language; tracking the breath through the body, its beginnings and endings; a careful and deliberate enjoying is to be encouraged; open and soften; spread it through the body by directing it; first jhana; seeing the presence and absence of hindrances and learning though the simplicity of the experience of it; it’s like THIS now; not rushed , not biased or corrupted by the mind turning things upside down/ getting things wrong; appreciate the comparative slowness of the dawning quality on the citta; the open moments; pausing at the end of things; what’s helpful now?
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2015-07-28
How Conduct Bears Fruit: Training in Not Killing
37:52
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Shaila Catherine
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This is the second talk in a speaker series titled Ethics, Action, and the Five
Precepts. This talk by Shaila Catherine explores kamma (karma) and the training precept to refrain from killing. The Abhidhamma presents a detailed analysis of both wholesome and unwholesome mental states to explain how some actions lead to suffering, and other actions lead to happiness. The conditions that surround an action, the intentions that instigate it, and the reflective understanding of potential consequences will influence the intensity of the patterns that affect our options. If you find that you have killed a living being, perhaps an insect, notice your mental state. Was hatred or greed present? Learn what happens in the mind to enable killing, and what happens in the mind when you refrain from violence. The act of restraint is a particularly potent action. When virtue (sila) is pure, reflections on the abstention from harming can be a source of joy. The potency of wholesome restraint can be increased by reinforcing it with the wisdom that understands the causes and end of suffering—right view of the path.
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Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
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In
collection:
Ethics, Action, and the Five Precepts
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2009-09-30
Attention, Intention, Energy and Awareness
22:16
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Two factors play a part in the way the mind operates – attention and intention. Both are conditioned, and both carry energy. Attention limits the span of awareness, intention defines the quality of it. A lot of the problems in meditation can be resolved through attention, intention and bringing the right kind of energy to them.
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Cittaviveka
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Vassa Retreat
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2008-11-03
Shoot Me First: Right Intention, Effort & Social Responsibility
1:17:35
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Ayya Medhanandi
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As we follow the steps of the Eightfold Noble Path, our hatred, greed, and delusion abate. We may yet suffer, but we use our suffering to fathom the meaning of it, see its causes, and see the possibility for ending suffering. The four Noble Truths come alive within. Invariably, our suffering manifests in many forms. It may never ‘end’ but it ceases to be a problem as our fear or aversion to it die. Persevering in this work is the way to make peace with our suffering.
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University of British Colombia
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2006-07-21
Purifying Intent
48:28
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Ajahn Sucitto
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This teaching encompasses all forms of experience, and the liberation from it all. Held with right intention, forms can be used for their benefits without clinging to them. Use forms – the body, the monastery – as props, to purify intention.
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Cittaviveka
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Vassa 2006 Group Retreat
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2005-10-10
Karma
1:21:07
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Thanissaro Bhikkhu
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The act of 'doing' Right Concentration is what allows you to understand what it means to 'do' so well that you actually learn how to stop doing. That's the karma that puts an end to karma, the intention that allows you to understand intention until you finally get to the point where you can stop.
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Metta Forest Monastery
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2004-01-01
The Present Moment
66:01
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Thanissaro Bhikkhu
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GET REAL
Reality is threatening when we try to live in our stories and preconceived notions. But when the mind is free of the falsity of delusion, things that are real pose no danger to the mind.
RIGHT NOW
What you're doing right now is very important -- a principle that applies to any 'right now,' because what you're doing right now is always shaping 'right now' as well as the future.
JUST THIS BREATH
In one breath you've got everything you need for the practice, so be fully aware right here, and the fullness of your awareness will develop over time without your having to pace yourself or to plan ahead.
SHAPING YOUR LIFE
As meditators, we can easily slip into the attitude that we're like people watching T.V. -- passive consumers, watching a reality that's ready-made -- but that's not what's really going on. We've always active, always shaping things, even when we seem to be perfectly still. The purpose of the meditation is to be more careful about our intentions, more alert about how we're shaping things.
DEVELOPING YOUR POTENTIAL
The simple things we already have in the present can be put together in such a way that they can lead to true happiness. We don't have to go searching outside. All we need is to develop what's right here.
FIVE TALKS ON ONE CASSETTE OR CD
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Metta Forest Monastery
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1991-11-30
Right Intention
53:23
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Carol Wilson
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expanding our willingness to practice into a willingness to greet all of life's situations in equal measure
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